Golf tourney to benefit area museums

The Ritzville Museum Volunteers are hosting a golf tournament at the Ritzville Municipal Golf Course on Sunday, Sept. 8, at 1 p.m. The golf tournament used to be held on an annual basis, but recently underwent a five-year hiatus.

The format for the tournament is a four-person scramble with all participants joining together for a dinner at Fairway Café at the conclusion of the event. The cost for the tournament is $30 per person, and golfers without a season pass must also pay green fees. The tournament cost is tax deductable, as the Ritzville Museums are a 501(c)3 designation.

A sign up sheet is available at the course clubhouse and at the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce (RACC). Participants can register as a team or as individuals. The deadline to register for the tournament is Sept. 3.

The tournament has returned as the museums are currently in crucial need of funds to make appropriate repairs and updates. The Train Depot is still using the original furnace installed with the building, which is over 100 years old, and replacement of the furnace is estimated at $10,000.

The Depot has recently acquired a train order signal, semaphore and telegraph pole, and the installation and purchase prices of the additions are also costly for the museum. The combination of the three additions restores the Depot to its 1911 status.

The Dr. Frank R. Burroughs’ Home and Museum is currently 123 years old and in need of general maintenance. Both museums need new window shades in order to protect the exhibits inside of the museums.

Individuals who are unable to attend the tournament but are interested in making a monetary contribution to the museums is asked to contact Gaynel Gering or Ann Olson. All checks can be made payable to Ritzville Museum Volunteers.

For more information about the tournament, contact the RACC office at 659-1936.